Origin: Traditional American (pre-Revolutionary War)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Notes Used: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C (high), D (high)
Time Signature: 2/4
Key: D Major
An iconic American tune with origins in the Revolutionary War era. Play it with patriotic pride and march-like precision!
Traditional verse (public domain):
Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.
Practice the opening ascending pattern.
Master the stepwise ascending pattern.
Practice the leap from D up to B.
Practice the descending scale pattern.
Put together the first section.
Yankee Doodle has a fascinating history dating back to before the American Revolution. Originally, British soldiers sang it to mock the Colonial "Yankees," but American forces adopted it as their own during the Revolutionary War, turning the mockery into a badge of pride. The melody likely has even older origins, possibly from a Dutch harvest song. The term "macaroni" in the lyrics referred to a fashionable style in 18th-century England. The song became one of America's most recognizable patriotic tunes and is now considered a national treasure. Its simple, memorable melody has made it enduringly popular for over 250 years.
Once you can play Yankee Doodle confidently, try: